Gorillas, Chimps, and a Big Game of Kibale, Bwindi, and Queen Elizabeth National Park
Mountain Gorilla Safari
Overview
It's one of the planet's great “bucket list” adventures: tracking mountain gorillas in the wild! In Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to half the world's population of these rare primates, we give you two exciting days of gorilla tracking for extraordinary opportunities to observe them up close. The hikes are steep, but the experience of sitting near a silverback and his family is unforgettable. This adventure is also a great safari as we track chimps in Kibale Forest National Park, explore the savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and boat along the Kazinga Channel among hippo and big herds of elephant, with a behind-the-scenes visit to the Conservation Through Public Health clinic at Bwindi. Your participation directly funds gorilla conservation!
Arrive: Entebbe, Uganda
Depart: Entebbe, Uganda
Highlights
- Breathtaking encounters with mountain gorilla clans in Bwindi, with two days of tracking
- Track chimpanzees on the trails of Kibale Forest National Park
- Safari by 4WD vehicle and boat, track lions with a researcher in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Travel by private boat on the Kazinga Channel to see herds of elephant and pods of hippo
- Behind-the-scenes visit at Conservation Through Public Health, an award-winning NGO
Itinerary
We drive from tidy tea plantations to the tropical forests of Kibale Forest National Park. On a cultural walk in a village near Kibale, we'll meet with a traditional healer and a coffee farmer, then hike the trails with our tracker to look for bands of chimpanzees as they forage and scamper through the treetops.
Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts the backdrop of the snow-capped Ruwenzoris, the fabled “Mountains of the Moon.” We safari by 4WD vehicle, go birding in the wetlands, and boat on the Kazinga Channel, on the lookout for elephant and the abundant hippo population. One morning, we join a researcher to track lion, learning about the social dynamics of the prides and efforts to reduce human-animal conflict.
The primeval forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are home to about 300 mountain gorillas. They live in stable family groups of about 15 individuals, moving from place to place as they forage for roots, shoots, fruit, and wild celery. We'll start our visit with a private tour at Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), learning about this award-winning NGO's work spanning the fields of conservation and local community health, and we'll dine with one of the CTPH doctors. After an orientation with Bwindi's trackers, we hit the trail with our skilled ranger guides. With two full days of tracking, we hike through dense thickets at altitudes of 3,800 to 8,500 feet. The hiking is challenging but the rewards are tremendous and the rigors soon forgotten when we come face to face with a gorilla family in the wild. Depart in the evening of Day 10 via Entebbe or join our Murchison Falls Extension.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3+, Moderate. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, and an openness to the unexpected.
Review Trip Level Details
The hikes to see the mountain gorillas can last anywhere from 3 to 6 hours over moderately steep, thickly forested, and uneven terrain, and the climate will be hot and humid. Gorilla tracking will occasionally feel strenuous as we hike uphill to follow the clans, but we will take breaks along the way. The shape you're in will be an important factor in your enjoyment of these hikes. Make an effort to get in good physical condition with hiking, biking, running, or other kinds of exercise beyond your normal routine. A brisk 30-45 minute walk every other day over moderately steep terrain can do wonders for your conditioning.
The climate in Uganda is considered “modified tropical”—similar to the equatorial climate of other East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania, but slightly modified by its altitude, which ranges from 3,500 to 4,500 feet. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 70s and 80s, and humidity is fairly high. You can expect to experience some rain during the course of the trip. Like Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda has two annual rainy seasons, one between March and May and one between October and November.
June, July and August
During these months, the country is refreshingly green and the weather is coolest, especially in the higher altitudes, with a high of 70°-80°F and a low of 40°F. Riding in the safari vehicle can be chilly some mornings, but the temperature usually warms up by 10:00 am.
September, October and November
These are delightful times to visit Uganda and can be compared to springtime in the US. The jacaranda and other trees are bursting into blossom and the days are warmer. The high temperatures are 75°-85°F, with a low of 65°F. Scattered rains occur in November and early December. These “short rains” just freshen the country and lay the dust, although they can sometimes be heavy.
December to March
These are Uganda's “summer” months. The temperature range is from 80° to 90°F during the day (coastal areas are hotter and can range from 80° to 100°). The evenings range from 50° to 60°F.
April and May
The rainy season (the “long rains”) occur during these months.
Our accommodations will be in comfortable hotels, safari lodges, and tented camps with spacious tents equipped with en suite facilities.
During game drives in our 4WD vehicles, we guarantee window seating for all—there's no taking turns on who gets the window seats. We use five- or seven-passenger safari vehicles (never minibuses!), and all vehicles have roof hatches for easy wildlife viewing and photography. A cooler of drinks and refreshments is carried aboard. And our 4WD vehicles can go virtually anywhere, an important feature when we're tracking game. Please note there are some long driving days over rough roads and dusty dirt tracks.
Client Testimonials
"Our guide, Habib, was perfect in every way. The overall experience was well planned and worth the effort and money."
Beverly B.
Beaufort, SC
"This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A wonderful adventure in a beautiful land."
Bruce H.
Santa Fe, NM
"This was the trip of a lifetime. It was well planned and organized, and the other travelers were good company. Leaders were attentive and helpful. Animals were spectacular. What's not to like?"
Cap T.
Davis, CA
"Thoroughly enjoyed this trip. The highlight was observing the mountain gorillas, but every day had something interesting to see or do."
Diane S.
Evergreen, CO
"It was a wonderful, memorable trip. We have traveled a lot in Southern Africa and seeing the gorillas and chimps up close was a thrill."
Elisabeth B.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
"This trip could not have been more interesting, delightful, and inspiring."
Elizabeth M.
Providence, RI
"This trip included a tremendous range of experiences, each of which was great. The planning was also perfect. Staying three nights in each of the last two magically perfect hotels allowed us to feel settled in."
Elizabeth M.
Providence, RI
"What a great trip! I don’t know how it could have been better...and Uganda—what a special place."
Ellen H.
Santa Fe, NM
"This trip offers an extensive look at a beautiful country that is still off the beaten path. The variety of environments and animals, from savanna to rainforest, is amazing, and the itinerary was very well thought out."
Jack S.
Evergreen, CO
"This is one of those experiences one will never forget. The beauty of Uganda and its people, along with the extraordinary viewing of primates and other wildlife, couldn't have been better. Many, many thanks."
Joseph B.
Portsmouth, RI
"Thank you—I’ll never forget this trip!"
Judy G.
Lafayette, CA
"The overall experience was amazing. Great wildlife viewing, good accommodations, a nice group of people, good diversity of activities. The Kazinga channel trip was one of the highlights, along with the chimp and gorilla tracking."
Kenneth B.
Chicago, IL
"I wish I was still there. Everything about the trip was unique and so memorable!"
Laura C.
Whitehouse Station, NJ
"As always, Wilderness set up a class adventure. It's why I keep coming back to you when I have the travel itch."
Mary W.
Crosby, TX
"Observing the gorillas in their natural habitat was a life-changing experience. One of the gorillas even reached out and touched me on the leg!"
Melinda C.
Tucson, AZ
"I enjoyed the trip very much. The itinerary was very well thought through, and our local guides were excellent."
Thomas V.
Mountain View, CA
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Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.